- “In Germany, they came first for the communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. They them came for me, and by that time there was nobody left to speak up.” Pastor Martin Niemoller (1892-1984)
Silence is not always golden.
Silence can be blasphemy.
To say nothing can be a hostile act.
When the Bible declares the power of life and death is in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21) it doesn’t mean you should not speak or that you should only speak life; some things need to be killed—speak up.
When a person never looks up to heaven and speaks praise and thanksgiving to their Creator that is a symptom of a dead or diseased soul!
If Joseph had not spoken up he would have remained in prison (Genesis 40:8) and of course speaking up could get you in prison (Just ask the Apostle Paul) but that’s OK if the cause is righteous 2 Timothy 1:8).
- The ONE THING for today: There is a time to speak and there is a time to be silent; wisdom is knowing the difference and acting accordingly.
…a time to be silent and a time to speak,
Ecclesiastes 3:7 (NKJV)